VOGONS


First post, by Baoran

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

Many video cards have brown slots for expanded memory. Can chips used in these slots be generally moved between video cards? Just wondering if all the video cards use same type of chips if expansions slots seem to be same size like for example in this picture.

The attachment memory slots.jpg is no longer available

Reply 1 of 5, by The Serpent Rider

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Yes, but difference in access time can cause problems.

I must be some kind of standard: the anonymous gangbanger of the 21st century.

Reply 2 of 5, by appiah4

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Make sure to use DRAM chips rated for speeds no slower than soldered memoey and it should be fine.

Reply 3 of 5, by Baoran

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

Looks like I can't move them between those 2 cards at least. It seems the top card has 70-80ns chips and bottom one has 50ns ram.

Reply 4 of 5, by dionb

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

No surprise there - the Trio64 on the bottom card is a later descendant of the Vision864 on the top one. 864 cards generally were shipped with 70ns DRAM, Trio64 with 60ns or sometimes even 50ns. Whether they actually need/use the extra capability of 50ns chips is another matter as Trio64 officially only supported RAM speeds up to 70MHz, which should be possible with 60ns chips. 70ns is too slow though - and 80ns is too slow for the 864... looks like someone has been creatively 'upgrading' that card with a mix of ancient RAM chips.

Reply 5 of 5, by appiah4

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
Baoran wrote:

Looks like I can't move them between those 2 cards at least. It seems the top card has 70-80ns chips and bottom one has 50ns ram.

50ns chips should work on the slower card but not vice versa.

As an aside, it's strange that 80ns chips actually work on the other card as dionb noted, they are probably running overclocked and out of spec.